Friday, February 27, 2015

You may remember that early this month I was busy scrap busting 1.5" squares from my stash in order to make some mini patchwork hearts? Wednesday, there was a peek at some machine embroidery. Well, today I can show you it was all for one project, a mini quilt.

Sweetheart Mini after appliqueing and before quilting.

Yesterday, I was ready to do the quilting, add binding and turn this idea into a finish!﻿

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

The weather here has turned all winter on us again, with colder temperatures and new snow after the mild, above freezing weather, yesterday. We've gone back and forth with snow and then no snow several times already this winter. The temperature has been up more than down this winter, giving us lots of breaks, so I can't complain about a harsh winter. One. Little. Bit. However, this recent change, means that instead of feeling and looking like Spring (with our snow melted away... was that only a day ago?!?), winter is back.

Since it's snowing like crazy, picture taking indoors is a bit trickier, but here's a glimpse at some machine applique I'm stitching. Sew much fun! I'm making good progress and enjoying the process, making me even more excited to finish this project (soon would be great! ;o).
Hope you find some stitching time today - it works wonders for the spirits while we wait for Spring.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Kicking off the week with a peek at progress on one of my current projects. Remember the paper piecing fun I had at the end of last year participating in Julianna's Last MinuteChristmas Sampler QAL? I've finished quilting one of myfavourite blocks.

Hope your week is off to a great start and like me, that this will be the only snowflake(s) you see today. We're supposed to have plus temperatures today, so the little snow we received last week should be gone. Woohoo!

Sunday, February 22, 2015

I received a surprise package earlier this month from a wonderful friend in Sweden. This lady is beyond generous and is often delighting me with something lovely in my mailbox.

Maja sent me some special Tilda fabrics, knowing how much I love Tone Finnanger designs. Maybe you remember my Babushka doll craze? or my favourite needle books? fabric cupcakes? and Tilda dolls? All those projects are Tilda designs. Honestly, I think I have sewn so many projects from her Sew Pretty Homestyle and Sew Pretty Christmas Homestyle books because of all the lovely Tilda fabrics they were made with ;o).

Such a pretty mix of Tilda prints that I'm looking forward to making something special from.

Now I get to add these special fabrics to my Tilda fabrics stash (ahem...this stash is all from Maja - yes, she spoils me! I'll say it again, she's generous and thoughtful.)

﻿

My first pieces of Tilda fabrics all came from my friend Maja. She sent this last year and I've been hoarding them for something special. ;o)

I'm still kicking around ideas of what I will be making with such pretties, but thought you might enjoy some fabric eye candy. ;o)

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Love the pairing of scrappy patchwork hearts and this sweet pink background fabric which is covered with dots and tiny hearts (it's from the Ric Rac Rabbits line).

Lucky for me, I had just enough red ball fringe (from a long ago thrift store visit), to trim this sweet pillow.

Actually, several thrift store materials went into this project - lovely red corduroy for the back(remainders from making this bag) and a bright pink invisible zipper for a clean finish. I love that I have stashed so many zippers from thift store shopping, that I usually can find exactly what I need for any project.

I couldn't resist adding a snippet of a sweet bunny as a label (it's also from the Ric Rac Rabbits fabric line).

My latest finish is now adding a happy touch of colour and patchwork to our living room, while being a lovely testament to the magic of scraps (and thift store finds ;o).

Thursday, February 12, 2015

I'm almost embarrassed to show yet another in progress project with you. This time around, a sheet of Valentine stickers inspired me to grab my scraps for a bit of patchwork.

I had fun selecting different prints from my scraps to cut the heart appliques and then playing with pairing them with solids. Not certain if I will leave the appliques with raw edges or if I'll satin stitch them to the background squares. All this scrap stash busting is giving me lots of projects to turn into finishes and providing some energizing colour to brighten grey winter days in my sewing room. ;o)

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Sometimes it's funny how one project will lead to another. Currently, I'm on a mad scrap sewing binge and digging through my scrap containers, I stumbled across pieces I used to make a earlier project (shown here). Those sweet fabric scraps enticed me and the next thing I know, I started sewing blocks. I sewed up all the leftovers and feeling pleased with the results, decided to use these blocks for sewing room projects. First up, a patchwork cover forthis machinebecause the vinyl one it came with is so blah (and still carries the scent of smoke, thanks to it's first owner).

In for a penny, in for a pound... I pulled out the containers holding my 1.5" and 2.5" strips to see if I could find a few more fabrics to use for more block making. Bingo!

Most of these blocks are made using strips I already had cut and stashed. The finished blocks are 3.5".

It's pretty obvious that in the intervening years since I first sewed a few of these blocks, that my stash of quilting cottons grew. I love having more fabric choices for a great scrappy mix! However, just like the first time around, I'm pairing up the cottons with white linen that started out as a skirt (one of my thrift store scores that I'm happily repurposing). I decided I would keep making these blocks until there's nothing left of the skirt. I have no idea how many blocks that will give me, but I know it will be more than enough to sew a cover for my serger. ;o)

Happily, progress is being made using up my red and pink scraps to sew mini heart blocks for a couple of project ideas. I'm loving scrap stash busting!

Next up is deciding which projects I will make with them. I'm toying with several ideas and already playing with layout combinations.

The otherscrappy sewing project, involving random bits and pieces that I shared last week, is also moving along nicely. Here's a glimpse of one bit of "yardage" that started out as a pile of scraps. Oh, the possibilities (no wonder I love scrappy sewing so much)! Again, I have more than one idea for using this bit of scrappy goodness. Stay tuned to see what I end up choosing from all my ideas. ;o)

Now, I'm not the only one that loves sewing with scraps. I'm delighted to join in with Leanne and Nicky's

A fun link up party where you can share any scrappy projects you're working on. Wahoo!

Thursday, February 5, 2015

I've got another scrappy project on the go. It seems I can't get enough of reds with pinks at the moment. Luckily, I still have a container with some reds/pinks/purples, cut into 1.5" squares (remainders from my king-size Granny square quilt) , which are perfect for making mini patchwork heart blocks.

The first block was too much temptation. Two more blocks soon followed. No surprise - there are more to come.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

I spent last month sewing clothes and this month, it seems like my theme is going to be sewing with scraps. There's more than enough to keep me busy for a bit, that's for certain. ;o)

First, I pulled out my red scrap container and next came some pink/purple scraps for some colourful fun.

I love the randomness of this kind of piecing and find it so relaxing. I just keep placing bits of fabric together and love the freedom this method involves. While my fingers are busy, my mind is able to ruminate - as this sewing needs neither intense concentration nor exacting measurement. I simply use the bits and pieces on hand. Not sure exactly where I'm heading with this bit of patchwork, but finding it satisfying to be thinning out my scraps while I create one-of-a-kind yardage. ;o)